We collaborate with library workers to bring dyslexic positivity, cultural competency, and evidence-based literacy to libraries. Provide practical, affordable, ready-to-go resources.
Downloadable Resources
Mission
To make every United States public library dyslexic positive by removing barriers to literacy for neurodiverse patrons and building the cultural competency in libraries. Empower library workers to think like reading scientists and develop programming through a neurodiverse lens while providing practical, affordable, ready-to-go resources through collaborative relationships adaptable to meet every community’s needs. DPLI is explicitly dyslexic and neurodiverse positive, and believes all can learn to read.
Who We Are
Emily Carley, M.Ed., M.Ed. Lic. PK-12 Literacy Specialist
Nicole Westbom, M.L.I.S., Head Youth Librarian
Susan Whitehead, M.L.S., Academic Librarian, Dyslexic
Our Founding Story
Libraries are for everyone! For some people this feels very obvious and for others the library community feels like a space in which they don’t yet belong. In March 2024, Emily Carley, M.Ed. VTHQT Lic. Specialized Literacy Professional PK-12, Public Education Literacy Specialist and Founder, The Literacy Spark along with Nicole Westbom, Head Youth Librarian Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier VT and Susan Whitehead, Business, Math and Technology Librarian for CCV and VSCS Libraries noticed a gap between dyslexic cultural competency, the lived experiences of neurodiverse people and evidence-based literacy in public libraries. The Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative was founded to engage and support library workers with affordable, practical and ready-to-use resources to become skilled allies to the dyslexic community and turn their libraries into Literacy Hubs so all can learn to read.
